Expedition: Ablesforth: The Demon Hole: Part 2 - 30 Aug 2021

[Zhym]

This is not going well. Ablesforth is severely injured, Pendleton can't take another hit like that, and we haven't reduced the lizards' numbers yet. I recommend retreat covered by Pendleton's last Web spell. I don't think Sleep will affect these things, or at least not more than one.

[Marullus]

we haven't reduced the lizards' numbers yet.

To be clear - your webbing has immobilized two. You're only fighting three, now.

[Zhym]

And they're still kicking our asses.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Any interventions from Brother Idriss last round?

[Marullus]

Oh, that guy?
He stays invisible, giving a round to see if the other Templars make headway before ruining his own spell.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Yeah. It's easy to overlook the NPCs when they're invisible.

Able has great difficulty bringing his maul to bear when he is half eaten.
"Persuader" (THACO 18): [1d20+2] = 8+2 = 10, dmg [1d8+2] = 1+2 = 3

[Rusty Tincanne]

I probably should have checked before i made an action, but Able is down to 4HP. Would have been wiser to try and flee...

[Zhym]

Marullus, is it still possible to web all the still-mobile lizards without catching the party members, or does melee make that impossible?

[Marullus]

Melee makes that impossible. They're all engaged.

[Zhym]

Pendleton backs away toward the door as silently as possible, hoping his invisibility will protect him.

If it's too late for Pendleton to avoid detection—i.e., if casting or attacking gives him the same chance of being hit as not casting or attacking—please let me know and I'll update my action. Thanks.

[Marullus]

He's still invisible, so that's a +4 to his AC as long as he doesn't attack.

[Zhym]

Okay. Pendleton tries to sneak away and hopes he doesn't get killed. He'll drink a potion of healing while he retreats.

Rusty hasn't rolled initiative, right?

Initiative: [1d6] = 6

[Marullus]

Pendleton and Idriss retreat to the door, their invisibility helping to keep them intact as the lizards go after their more immediate, pressing foes. Pendleton drinks his potion of healing (+6) while Idriss casts a spell to aid Ablesforth -- Dodging back from the lizards, Ablesforth splits into four warriors, greatly increasing the lizard's perception of the odds against them.

Dolph brings down his massive sword and incapacitates the lizard he has been battling with (-9), but the four Ablesforths find they cannot land their setting maul upon the nimble, thick-skinned lizards. Jacques and Molay dodge as the lizards come at them, both of their swords missing their blows. The two remaining lizards work in concert with fierce effect - one herds Jacques to the left away from Molay while the other catches him with its tongue and jerks him off his feet before they both dive upon his prostrate body and tear him to ribbons (-8, -5, -6, -6).

Actions!

Date: 31 August 2021, 11:52am
Light: Lantern (carried by Jaques) until 2:00pm
Effects: Protection from Evil (each person); Invisibility (Pendleton, Idriss); Mirror Image - Ablesforth (3 remaining)
Injuries: Jacques (dying, bleeding, unconscious); Ablesforth (severely injured); Pendleton (mildly injured)

initiative: them [1d6] = 2
Mirror Other [1d4] = 3
CLW [1d6+1] = 5+1 = 6
Molay longsword (Thac0 15) [1d20] = 9 [1d8+3] = 6+3 = 9 Jacques longsword longsword (Thac0 16) [1d20] = 6 [1d8+2] = 5+2 = 7
Dolph Two-handed Sword (Thac0 16) [1d20] = 19 [1d10+2] = 7+2 = 9
lizard [1d20] = 19 [2d4] = 8 [1d6] = 5 target [1d7] = 6
lizard [1d20] = 14 [2d4] = 6 [1d6] = 6 target [1d7] = 6

[Rusty Tincanne]

Able thanks Idriss, then tries to grab Jaques and pull him from the room. If he is attacked/pulled into combat, he will swing with his maul.

"Persuader" (THACO 18): [1d20+2] = 12+2 = 14, dmg [1d8+2] = 1+2 = 3
And likely miss... Luckily, with four of him, I hope he can avoid CC.

[Marullus]

Does Pendleton have an action?

[Zhym]

Pendleton stands ready to web the room if Ablesforth can get Jacques out of there.

[Marullus]

Jacques lies prostrate on the floor, his dropped and spilled lantern guttering out beside him. Ablesforth orders a fighting retreat, grabbing Jacques and dragging him from the room. Both lizards attack mirror images, ending with confused looks as their quarry dissipates before them. The distraction is enough, though - nobody hits the lizards, but everyone makes it to the doorway. Pendleton stands ready and casts a web upon the room - catching one of the two lizards and ensnaring it and also blocking this doorway into the chamber with sticky strands. The second giant chameleon manages to evade the web as it flanks and lunges through the doorway, still in pursuit.

Actions!

Date: 31 August 2021, 11:53am
Light: Lantern (on floor, spilled [-2 penalty]) until 12:20pm
Effects: Protection from Evil (each person); Invisibility (Pendleton, Idriss); Mirror Image - Ablesforth (1 remaining)
Injuries: Jacques (dying, bleeding, unconscious); Ablesforth (severely injured); Pendleton (mildly injured)

initiative: us [1d6] = 3 them [1d6] = 4
lizard [1d20] = 16 [2d4] = 3 [1d6] = 3 target [1d6] = 3
lizard [1d20] = 14 [2d4] = 6 [1d6] = 2 target [1d6] = 2
Dolph Two-handed Sword (Thac0 16) [1d20] = 11 [1d10+2] = 8+2 = 10
Molay longsword (Thac0 15) [1d20] = 10 [1d8+3] = 7+3 = 10
Lizard save [1d20] = 15 [1d20] = 12

[Zhym]

"Deal with the lizard. I will tend to Jacques," says Pendleton.

"By the way," he adds, deadpan, "I may have detected a flaw in our plan to come in with small numbers hoping to evade the sniffers and put goblins to sleep."

[Rusty Tincanne]

Able nods, setting the Templar down as gently as he can. He and his last twin swing at the lizard again.

"Persuader" (THACO 18): [1d20+2] = 11+2 = 13, dmg [1d8+2] = 8+2 = 10

[Marullus]

If you guys could help me out? You can do them attack rolls for Dolph, Jacques, and Molay. That would make it easier for me to get updates posted, as I am trying to do them from my phone.